Step 6: Final Suggestions

Step 7: BONUS!

As a "thank you" for all those who voted for this instructable I decided to add a Bonus Page! Below you will find the CAD file for the Trex model p...

I'm sure we've all seen those small wooden 3D dinosaur models. I had a few that I loved as a kid, but they all shared a common flaw. They were much too small!! As a father I set about to rectify that problem for my son. In the following steps I'll provide all the information you'll need to make your very own 6 foot tall T-Rex model!

*NOTE: My T-Rex was sized and built using 1/2" thick plywood. Upon completion I realized that the legs, tail, and spine are a bit too flimsy. I'm going to recut just these pieces using 3/4" plywood. I would recommend using 3/4" thick for this project if you only want to buy two sheets of plywood, but keep in mind there is a weight advantage by using 1/2" for all the other pieces. I went with oak because it has a nicer grain and accepts stain better than pine. If you choose to go with pine, you'll need to use wood conditioner before applying any stain.

This is awesome!! We need one for an upcoming museum theme party for a school fundraiser . . . would you consider selling us a "kit" comprised of all the pieces cut out? We have some dads who could put it together, but they're not so comfortable with the saw!!

Thanks!I would love to, but it's outside of my ability. The cost of shipping would be astronomical as well. What you might look into is finding a company that does laser cutting or CNC cutting and have them cut the pieces from the CAD files I provided. Shipping will still be expensive, but it would be cleaner cuts with much less labor time. (You can imagine how long it took me to cut all the pieces using just a jig saw)

We are in the middle of making 2 full size and one half-size t-Rex dinosaurs for the entry way to our wedding! Staples printed the plans out. It cost about $50 on 24x36" engineering paper. I printed the small one on 12x18". So excited! Will post final product.

Try this - http://woodgears.ca/bigprint/ It allows you to print large pictures as a mosaic of smaller pages. Also have a look at the rest of the site, it's a great wood working resource and Matthias has a great style for presenting his videos.

Those 24x36 pteradon templates are so nice and easy!!... is there a way to adapt the Trex model to fit two sheets like the pteradon templates? Also any chance more templates of different dinos could be included in the future, only because I saw that this guy picked up a bunch of models from a craft store and the forms are there (http://www.instructables.com/id/Cardboard-Dinosaur..., if only a nice someone would transcribe them into 24x36 pdf templates!

Just love this guy and thank you so much for doing this for us. It was so easy a cave woman could do it. Looking to make more and so excited. I would love more patterns if they come avaiable. Fossilbabe

Thanks for this instructable. I built a T-Rex using my XY table for my son's ninth birthday party. I buried all the bits and had the kids dig it up as archaeologists and assemble it. The kids had so much fun they did not want to go home again.

Quite dangerous to flip your router upside down ? You bet. I cut away a big hunk of a finger doing that about 17 years ago. The router grabbed the piece I was holding and sucked my hand right in. Ouch!

Yes, there is a cloud marked on piece 8 to remind you to check the slots against piece 9. The question is answered in greater detail in one of my comments below. In the main photo on step 5 you can see my son putting these pieces together. Piece 3 slides into piece 9 and then piece 8 attaches.

Okay ! Thank you for your answer ! This cloud has been very confusing for me, I had not understood what it meant : I thought it was part of piece 8, I drew it and cut it in the wood (!!!) (And it did not fit very well with pieces 3, as you may imagine) Well, it learns me I should read all the comments before trying an instructable. I love this one. I will post photos of my little T-Rex soon. Thank you ! (PS : I printed the pdf on A4 paper, and my T-Rex happens to be only about 60cm high (sorry, I'm french, I don't measure with inches or feet. It must be about 2 feet high, a little less). How was I supposed to print it, so that it would be 6 feet tall ? I don't think I can put anything else than A4 paper in my printer...)

Sorry for the confusion. I've had a couple questions on that.. Maybe I should have dashed the cloud in or put a note on the piece. I would love to see pics once you have it complete! For the 6' tall model you have to print on 24"x36" paper. (Arch D) In metric that would be an ANSI D sheet, but it'll be a little undersized. ANSI D converts to 22"x34" in imperial. You'll have to take the file to a printing service or maybe find a drafting company who can print it for you.

Thank you for your answer ! Here is the photo. It is 55 cm high, made with 10mm plywood. (One piece is missing in the tail, I had lost it when I took the photo, just found it back.) It's not perfect and it's got a few problems (particularly around piece 8, that I will have to do again), but I learned to use the jigsaw with this instructable, so I'm still happy with what I've done. About piece 8 : I've cut the cloud, but did only 2 notches, and I don't undestand why there should be a third one : one notch for each piece 3 (right and left), and what is the third one for ? I haven't got a router, and I was wondering what it was for. Making round edges on the pieces ? Is it really important, does it change the T-rex a lot ? I couldn't see on the photos. Is it a usefool tool? Isn't it a little expensive ? Are you planning on giving the plans of another dinosaur ? I'd love to try a new one !

Looks Great!! OK, to answer your questions: -The third (middle) notch on 8 allows the spine and tail sections to meet up. Not overly critical, but looks a little nicer that way. -Yes, routers typically are used to round edges, but can also create nice, complexed edges, and can also cut grooves in wood. -Overpriced? Depends on which one you buy and how often you use it. I wouldn't buy one just for this project. (in fact, I borrowed my dads...again.. lol) -No, it doesn't change it a lot, it just makes it look a little more "finished" You could achieve the same effect by sanding down all of the edges, but that would take forever. -Other dinosaurs.. yeah I'm considering it. Was thinking of making a smaller scale pterosaur. (i.e. more affordable) but I haven't decided yet.

My spine and tail weren't very stable, even held by piece 8. I screwed metal splice plates alongside the notches in the spine and tail, above the slots, so they wouldn't interfere with the other pelvic pieces. It's rock solid now. Paint/stain blends the metal in with the wood. Awesome instructable and a great birthday present for my paleontologist girlfriend. I used 5mm ply for the bird and 3/4" ply for the strong-jawed walker. We'll tuck these bad boys on the edge of the woods bordering the road so sharp-eyed passers-by can enjoy them. Thanks!

Ok ! Thank you very much for your answers. It's the first instructable I achieve, and I'm really happy with the result. Be sure I'll vote for you at the "dadcando contest" as soon as I will have understood how to.

Found a German site that might have what you need. Here is the t-Rex http://www.blechwelt.com/teil_des_monats/dxf/Tyrannosaurus-1.dxf Here is the main site: http://www.blechwelt.com/teil_des_monats/archiv Lots of CNC/laser cut stuff there and he got the t-rex on one sheet! And there is this: http://www.epiloglaser.com/sc_dino.htm

Now I just need a few other dinos and I got it going on. Freeside Atlanta (www.freesideatlanta.org) has a visiting CNC expert. He got our sputtering machine running and is teaching me how to build a better one. (future instructable.)